Steering rack freeplay excessive

[minh Member Find all posts View Profile Close minh]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

Can we just take our cars into toyota and get them to fix this problem under recalls? http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index ... mId/954296

[bmurray2250 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bmurray2250]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

Did the same issue in the right and it ended up being a inner ball joint on the steering rack. Easy to replace

[joffy4819 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close joffy4819]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

Hi all
My steering has gotten progressivley worse, it now wanders all over the road, making it tiring to drive as you need to constantly correct it. At 1850000klm on original gear I think I have had a good run. On inspecting worn components I need to replace both rack ends and the rack bushes... The rack can move up and down nearly an inch on the bushes. On inspecting the Inlaws prado theirs moves also but not as much. Not going to fall off but the reason for the wanders I think.
I have a couple of questions so here goes.
1. It seems that quite a few people have had some longevity issues with aftermarket rack ends. Considering the pain in the ass factor of constant changeovers and the cost of a Wheel alignment every time. Is it worth spending the money on genuine if you are only getting 30000klm max out of aftermarket items?
2. When I replace the rack bushes, I have found a kit made by Noleathane. Using this kit rather than a rubber one, should the rack move around less? and stay tighter for longer? Has any one used one of these kits? If so what do you think?
3. I understand that the polyeurathane bushes are harder than rubber. I am considering replacing the lower control arm bushes, Sway bar ends(front and rear) Panhard Rod ect, With the Noleathane Bushes.. Keeping rubber bushes where more flex is required. Is this a good move.?
I am trying to take some of the slop out of the steering and suspension by replacing some key components. Any other feedback would be apreciated
Cheers
Jon.

[Snaga Wishing I was lost Find all posts View Profile Close Snaga]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

Hi all
My steering has gotten progressivley worse, it now wanders all over the road, making it tiring to drive as you need to constantly correct it. At 1850000klm on original gear I think I have had a good run. On inspecting worn components I need to replace both rack ends and the rack bushes... The rack can move up and down nearly an inch on the bushes. On inspecting the Inlaws prado theirs moves also but not as much. Not going to fall off but the reason for the wanders I think.
I have a couple of questions so here goes.
1. It seems that quite a few people have had some longevity issues with aftermarket rack ends. Considering the pain in the ass factor of constant changeovers and the cost of a Wheel alignment every time. Is it worth spending the money on genuine if you are only getting 30000klm max out of aftermarket items?
2. When I replace the rack bushes, I have found a kit made by Noleathane. Using this kit rather than a rubber one, should the rack move around less? and stay tighter for longer? Has any one used one of these kits? If so what do you think?
3. I understand that the polyeurathane bushes are harder than rubber. I am considering replacing the lower control arm bushes, Sway bar ends(front and rear) Panhard Rod ect, With the Noleathane Bushes.. Keeping rubber bushes where more flex is required. Is this a good move.?
I am trying to take some of the slop out of the steering and suspension by replacing some key components. Any other feedback would be apreciated
Cheers
Jon.

1.8Mil k's on original gear!! I'd be happy with that

Sorry , I can't offer anything constructive ops:

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

well after 302000k's mine are original and still good, no play, but now that I have said that Murphys Law will get me......
and before anyone says anything, yes I do go off road heaps.

[shiner Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close shiner]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

I've also done over 320000klm still going strong and I also do alot of off roading

[Taresk Member Find all posts View Profile Close Taresk]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

Hi all
My steering has gotten progressivley worse, it now wanders all over the road, making it tiring to drive as you need to constantly correct it. At 1850000klm on original gear I think I have had a good run. On inspecting worn components I need to replace both rack ends and the rack bushes... The rack can move up and down nearly an inch on the bushes. On inspecting the Inlaws prado theirs moves also but not as much. Not going to fall off but the reason for the wanders I think.
I have a couple of questions so here goes.
1. It seems that quite a few people have had some longevity issues with aftermarket rack ends. Considering the pain in the ass factor of constant changeovers and the cost of a Wheel alignment every time. Is it worth spending the money on genuine if you are only getting 30000klm max out of aftermarket items?
2. When I replace the rack bushes, I have found a kit made by Noleathane. Using this kit rather than a rubber one, should the rack move around less? and stay tighter for longer? Has any one used one of these kits? If so what do you think?
3. I understand that the polyeurathane bushes are harder than rubber. I am considering replacing the lower control arm bushes, Sway bar ends(front and rear) Panhard Rod ect, With the Noleathane Bushes.. Keeping rubber bushes where more flex is required. Is this a good move.?
I am trying to take some of the slop out of the steering and suspension by replacing some key components. Any other feedback would be apreciated
Cheers
Jon.

Don't go the poly on the back, I did it and have regretted it since, sure it firmed up the on-road ride, but it's really choppy off-road, and just doesn't flex like it used to.

[vivioman Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vivioman]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

At 247,000kms, I've replaced/going to replace:

1) Inner tie rod ends (these are the ones encased in the boot - bought from ebay). The original ones were shot, real shot.
2) Front lower ball joints (also from ebay at $200 set of 4 - top and bottom - but only replaced bottom ones.
3) Steering rack bush kit (from ebay $53 Nolathanes - going in this Saturday). Apparently this would cure my swaying problem as the current bushes are shot and there is slight movement in the rack.
4) Lower control arm bushes are worn but still usable (have purchased a set of Nolthanes from Repco for $196, going in at a later stage)
5) Sway bar bushes would have to be replaced at some later stage too.

After replacing 1) and 2), I found my steering much tighter and was not sloppy like before. Hopefully when the steering rack bushes go in the swaying will disappear.

[Derb Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Derb]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

Hi Fellas. At 195,000 km had to replace inner tie rod ends for a warrant. Took it back for retest and was told rack end bushes also duffed. Long story short, After having the steering rack reconditioned, rod ends replaced, rack locating bushes replaced and a wheel alignment - $1050-00 tab! Talk about make your eyes water bud. Tyres were wearing ok and the old girl still steered ok. But you gotta love the old 90's doncha. Cheers.

[joffy4819 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close joffy4819]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

1.8Mil k's on original gear!! I'd be happy with that

Gotta love toyota reliability.... Sorry bout the typo.
Replaced the steering rack bushes over the weekend. Now sporting some nolathane ones. Wow. What a difference, no more wandering and no more bump steering. Different car to drive now.
New rack ends and tierod ends arrived today, Still waiting on some new nolathane bushes for the swaybars and some new extended sway bar links for the rear.
should all arrive this week, ready to put in on the weekend.

[HeathNZ Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close HeathNZ]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

I wonder if this is my problem also.

Basically I had no problems (drove like a dream) until I got sick of the lower control arm bushes squeaking. Took it in to get replaced and an alignment done. A week later its all over the road and pulls hard right when I brake and pulls right when I accelerate, when I throttle off it drifts left and if I coast along (like down hill) the steering centres itself (steering wheel can be as much as 30 degrees off to the left to drive straight).

Went back and they found the alignment was way out and after 3 attempts they found a lower ball joint was stuffed (8mm of vertical drop :shock: ). How they missed this when they pulled all that stuff off to get the LCA's off to do the bushes I dont know. Replaced the ball joint and another W/A and a short drive. Still wandering on the road at speed and if anything its getting worse.

I'm a bit pissed now as I am loosing my wagon for a whole day next week (so they can go over it), they dont know what could be the problem (this is a reputable business and has done these for years). Not to mention that this simple job is going to cost me hundreds more. Of course if I complaing they will just say it was old stuff that went at the same time...

I make a habit of keeping old parts now so I can see what the problem was.

I am wondering if during the removal of the LCA's to do the bushes when the removed the steering rack that they didn't do it back up tight or did they damage components (rack and tierod ends) when they had the LCA's off (the remaining parts were hanging in air).

I'm tempted to get the drivers side lower ball joint done as well just for piece of mind, but its $240 to do that (yeah I got ripped - 4 bolts and one castle nut, pop the joint out and bolt in a new one all for $130).

Any suggestions?

[dhula Member Find all posts View Profile Close dhula]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

Something really stupid and way (and I mean way) out there, but when they did the lower bushes they did put the LCA's back on the right side didn't they.
I don't know if you can mix them up or if it matters as I don't have the prado to take a quick look till this arvo, but hay, it's a simple and possible mistake to make maybe.

Just as some thing else, a few years ago I was trying to diagnose a 4wd truck that was doing similar things

pulls right when I accelerate, when I throttle off it drifts left and if I coast along (like down hill) the steering centres itself

and it turned out to be a broken axle.
Like I said, out there but it doesn't hurt to check while the rest is being looked at.

Apart from that all the regular stuff like bushes, ball joints, rod ends etc is where I would start, don't forget mounting bolts for wear and tightness (or perhaps broken).

[HeathNZ Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close HeathNZ]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

Had a good look today and jacked the front wheels up individually. everything looks and feels okay (will be different with load I guess) and the diff seems fine (spin a wheel and it turns the front shaft - got noisy bearings in the t case though :? and theres a fair amount of slop in the diff too - well more then I like).

Might have a bearing issue with the pass side wheel bearings as I could get a slight "clunk/click" when I put a bar under the wheel and levered it up. Brakes dont appear to be dragging as the wheels spin fine. and are even on each side.

Will get the tyres rotated back to how they were before the W/A just to rule them out as a contributing factor (I have a sneaking suspision they might be partly to blame).

[i4hero Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close i4hero]

Re: Steering rack freeplay excessive

hey guys,
I'm trying to diagnose a strange and annoying problem with the steering of my car. I thought it was wheel alignment, but it is not (since 2 alignment later, I still have the same issue). The steering wheel feels very light and it has a tendency to pull slightly left or right over uneven tarmac surface. I suspect the problem may lie in the steering.

Could anyone tell me the symptoms of worn out rack bushes?